Getting back into modeling

MoeSki

Hey all.
So I've got an interesting situation on my hands. I'm a Teachers Assistant at a summer program where I help teach game design and 3D modeling. Since this is a basic summer course, these kids are handling simple character creation, then importation/material editing in UDK. It's been a while since I've created something in Maya, so I wanted to make sure I'm caught up with the course material. So I started modeling my own project along side them.

I'm making a Plasma Gun from the War hammer 40K universe. However, it's not the iconic variant shown on every Games Workshop model. It's a variant that comes with the Elysian Drop Troops sold by Forge World.

Here's the main reference I will be using



Luckly some bad ass posted a turn around of a model carrying the weapon:


Since I'm a game developer I will be posting all of my progress shots in UDK (with the acceptation of the first two days since I want to show wire frame). I'll also be adhering to the following guide lines:

• I will be keeping a maximum 1,000 polycount
• I will only use a 512 map
• All of my posts and WIP's will be taken in UDK [With the acceptation of wire frame shots]
• I will stick to the 7 day deadline the student's I'm assisting have been assign.

Scheduled:
Monday: First Draft
Tuesday: Second Draft
Wednesday: Third & Final Draft, UVing and initial texturing
Thursday: Sculpting the normal map, continue texturing
Friday: Finish Normal map and texturing, start and finish spec map
Saturday: Write unique material effects in UDK
Sunday: Complete the shader network and post the results

.

This is my first time holding a sketch book thread so wish me luck!

oh and of course, all criticisms are welcome!

MoeSki

As promissed, Here are the pictures of the first draft of the plasma gun


Here's the first block in I did. I decided to leave the plasma flask at the bottom of the model until I get to a higher polycount with my model


I had to go back and make sure I didn't make the beginner mistake of extruding over a previous extrusion:


It turns out that I messed up the handle royally. >:c But hey, it's better to start over then polish a turd. Here's a picture of the handle being rebuild the handle:


More will be posted tonight!

MoeSki

So today I had some interesting progress. I left off with the beginning of a handle Monday night. When I started work Tuesday I compulsively finished the carrying handle. Once that was complete I started to give definition to the Stock, Grip and Hand guard. All of this detailing came in at under 850 verts. I also hardened and softened the appropriate faces which lead to the following:





And finally, A side shot:


Tomorrow, I plan to use my remaining count to add some detail to the scope carrying handle. I should also have it UV'd.

I'm off to bed.

MoeSki

So it's lunch time! I've been working on removing Nsided faces for most of the morning. I also attempted to improve my poly flow then I started removing what ever tris I could. For now I'm done adding vertices, after lunch I will start the UVing process.






That's all for now, Around 5 I'll be post the UV'd model in UDK.

MoeSki

So It turned out that I underestimated how difficult UVing would be for me. Unfortunately I did not get my second post in last night. I did however manage to get a better UV map by waiting to post. Excuses set aside, I'm finding the UV process to be a rather interesting puzzle. First off, I have to take the 3D projecting of an object, then stitch it together in a two dimensional representation which has to fit within a cube. Compressing the space and deciding which faces get more detail is an interesting challenge and I look forward to taking it up again next month when I feel my modeling skills are sharp enough to enter one of the noob contests.

But any who, here are some picture of the model so far. I'm using place holder colors to designate where my textures will eventually go.




There is one particular section in the UV map that I feel I should go back to an reassess its flow. But I'll figure that out tomorrow.
Finally, I also started to decide what type of color pallet I will be using. Being a big fan of 3ED Warhammer 40K. I love the colorful weapon schemes used by the Sisters of Battle and the Which Hunters. Specifically there was one model I painted which was a priest holding a plasma gun. I recently dug up a picture of the model online and I instantly fell in love with the color pallet:



Any who folks, I'm off to bed. I'll post more stuff tomorrow morning. I'll hopefully have the textures completed.

Night

MoeSki

It's been a while since I've posed (About half a year) But I've been working on a small assortment of models. I'll post what I've been working on in this Thread.

After I completed work on my Space Ship Combat game. I decided to dedicate some time every week to improve my 3D modeling skills. My program of choice was Blender 2.56. I chose it because I already had a familiarity with the software. I also plan to use some of the 3D models for future projects, and Blender is open source so it made me a happy modeler.

Any way, This is the first model I made while on my break It's a Las Pistol from the Warhammer 40k Universes. I didn't finish this model, The objective of this model was to get familiar with Blenders tools.

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After that, I was going through a Cyber Punk Phase. I'm currently really into Android:Net Runner And I wanted to a futuristic computer. I also started watching The Wire and I noticed a Cool lamp on the desk of one of the main characters, so I sketched the lamp and turned it into a computer.

Reference:

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Speed Sketch
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Renders
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After completing this model, I decided to move on to physical studies. My family has an old Sewing Kit they brought with them when the Immigrated to Canada.I then implemented it within the Skyrim Engine.

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The following week I created a Plaque used to store a Warhammer

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Right now, I'm working on a 3D model of a 300 year old chair which belonged to a historical Canadian Figure who helped establish courts, trial by jury, English common law, and freehold land tenure.the guy also helped abolish slavery in Canada, what a bro!

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I'll be finishing the chair by the end of the week, then implementing it into the Creation Kit.
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MoeSki

What's this? I'm alive?
Yeah, it's bee quite a while since I've posted. Life been rough to me in the last couple of months. I've had to death with the death of a valued feline companion and an individual who's life I attempted to save. I made a game during this process to help me sort through my emotions. It was a fun adventure in self exploration which lead to several retaliations.
Most of which where positive.

Any who, here are some models I've recently create.

MoeSki

I've also create a hunting spear used in War Hammer 40k by the Rough Rider Units of the Imperial Guard. I may plug this into Skyrim. I'm not too sure though.

Skarloc

hey nice job, keep going